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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”